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“since 98% of Texas is privately held, what does he do?”

All duties are here:
http://www.glo.texas.gov/GLO/boards-and-commissions/index.html

Here is a partial list of duties:

The Land Commissioner serves as chairman of the board for the following boards and commissions:

School Land Board
Responsible for the stewardship of state lands in the Permanent School Fund for the benefit of public schools in Texas. Learn More

Veterans Land Board Provides Texas veterans with long-term, low-interest land loans and oversees the Texas State Veterans Home Program as well as the Texas State Veterans Cemetery Program. Learn More

Coastal Coordination Advisory Committee
Responsible for coordinating local, state, and federal activities along the coast through the Texas Coastal Management Program. Learn More

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Responsible for leasing underutilized land owned by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Learn More

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Responsible for leasing underutilized land owned by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Learn More

University Lands
Responsible for leasing underutilized land owned by the Permanent University Fund for the benefit of public universities in Texas. Learn More

Texas Farm & Ranch Lands Conservation Council
Responsible for helping the Texas Land Commissioner administer the Texas Farm & Ranch Lands Conservation Program and select grant recipients. Learn More

Coastal Land Advisory Board
Provides recommendations to the Governor on the best use of funds in the Texas Coastal Impact Assistance Program. Learn More

Texas State Veterans Cemetery Committee
Responsible for creating guidelines to determine the location and size of veterans cemeteries, as well as eligibility for burial in a veterans cemetery. Learn More

Special Board of Review
Presides over the appeals process when a local government denies the rezoning request for a development plan on state land. Learn More